Garden Spotlight: Chiltepin Peppers * Hot Stuff in a berry-sized Pepper! #GardenCuizine

South Jersey Garden Spotlight 
Chiltepin Peppers
 Shown growing in USDA Zone 7a (formerly zone 6b)

Chiltepin Peppers (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare) look like berries; they can be easily dried and used ground or crushed to add flavor to your favorite foods. A little goes a long way; don't let their size fool you. The little peppers are hot stuff at 50,000-100,000 Scoville units - compared to Jalapeno peppers at 3,500 to 8,000 Scoville units . 

Hot pepper heat varies depending on several factors, including the region where grown and growing conditions. The Scoville organoleptic scale is a measure of the capsaicinoid compound that makes hot peppers hot (0 to 16 million units). Pharmacist Wilbur Scoville created the scale in 1912.

Chiltepin Peppers, also known as Bird Peppers, are a food source for birds in some regions. But in our South Jersey garden, we've never had that concern. Perhaps, because the majority ripen indoors in the fall. Chiltepin plants need a long growing season. We grow our Chiltepins in pots and usually bring them indoors when frost threatens. 

To harvest, wait until the peppers are red and ripe, then pick off the plant and let dry out. We dry Chiltepins inside on a plate, then when completely dry, store in spice jars. Bird pepper skins are thin enough that they dry nicely, without getting moldy inside. 

Clinical studies have shown dietary capsaicin to have properties that may benefit weight loss and lower fasting glucose and leptin levels.   

Related Links

Ark of Taste: Chiltepin Pepper 
Bird Peppers Dave's Garden Plant Files Info 
Scoville Scale for Peppers
Homemade Ground Pepper Spices by Diana Wind, RD
Photo and blog post Copyright (C)2012 Wind. All rights reserved.

Dry Rub Seasoning Wedding Favors #GardenCuizine

A Wedding Favor with Flavor

Peppers add great flavor to foods. Easy to grow, they like the summer heat and can survive occasional neglect. Fresh picked peppers add nutrients and flavor to meals and garden salads. Abundant harvests can be dried for uses in spice rubs and seasoning mixes. This summer we plan on growing Alma peppers, to dry for paprika. 

Reduce Salt with Dried Seasonings

The recent 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (about 1 teaspoon of salt) a day. And for salt sensitive populations* - over half of all Americans - the amount of sodium recommended per day is less than 1,500 milligrams. 

*Salt sensitive populations include African Americans, those over age 51 and people with high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney problems. 

Dried herbs and spices serve as a good substitute to high salt in prepared foods. The American Dietetic Association supports using herbs, spices and spice rubs in cooking in place of salt. And the American Heart Association recommends preparing foods with little or no salt to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Wedding Favors with Flavor

Last summer my cousin Kristine got married. Their wedding favors were adorable little containers of homemade gourmet spice rub. She said they had a lot of fun making them too! Here is a recipe that we use for a tasty low salt dry rub:

Spicy Dry Rub
1 Tablespoon (T) paprika
1 T brown sugar
1 teaspoon (tsp) ground black pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp hot pepper flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp celery seed
1/8 tsp salt

Combine ingredients and store in an airtight container kept in a dark place. For use in wedding favors, make a large batch and portion into small containers labeled with the names of the bride and groom and their wedding date. They may opt to add a personal note on a color coordinated card attached with ribbon. The message on the back of Kristine and Matt's Spice Rub card said, "Thank you for celebrating with us!" 

Enjoy on barbecued ribs or chicken. 

Note: Many of our homemade spice rubs are adapted from spice rub recipes found in the Jack Daniel's BBQ Cookbook. Be creative in your cooking and don't hesitate to reduce the salt called for in the recipe or to add or delete ingredients. 

Related Links

Homemade Ground Pepper Spices 
American Heart Association on Sodium
Blog Article and Photograph Copyright © 2011 D.Wind. All rights reserved.